 | WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE | |
| Legislative Digest No. 12 | ||
| SIXTIETH LEGISLATURE | ||
| Wednesday, January 24, 2007 | 17th Day - 2007 Regular Session | |
| HOUSE |
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This publication includes digest and history for bills, joint memorials, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, initiatives, and substitutes. Engrossed measures may be republished if the amendment makes a substantive change.
Electronic versions of Legislative Digests are available at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/digests.aspx?year=2007.
HB 1559
by Representatives Curtis, Fromhold, Haler, Newhouse, Walsh, Quall, Anderson, Priest, Moeller, Lantz, and O'Brien
Requiring development of a college mathematics placement examination.
Declares an intent that a common examination in mathematics, with common scores for determining student qualifications for college-level mathematics courses, be developed for use by all of the state's institutions of higher education.Requires the test and scores to be developed and implemented by the beginning of the 2008-09 academic year.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Higher Education. | |
HB 1560
by Representatives P. Sullivan, Walsh, Pettigrew, Appleton, Simpson, Kenney, Lantz, Santos, and O'Brien
Establishing a pilot program to provide preschool tuition scholarships for children in foster care.
Directs the department of social and health services to select for a two-year pilot program three regional offices representing the geographic diversity of the state. The primary purpose of the pilot program is to promote access to high-quality early learning programs for more children in foster care.Provides that the act shall be null and void if appropriations are not approved.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Early Learning & Children's Services. | |
HB 1561
by Representatives Jarrett, Clibborn, Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Rodne, and P. Sullivan
Granting authority of a watershed management partnership to exercise powers of its forming governments.
Provides that a watershed management partnership formed under the authority of RCW 39.34.210 that is composed entirely of public agencies authorized to exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided by chapter 8.12 RCW, and a separate legal entity established by such a partnership to conduct the cooperated undertaking of the partnership under the same statutory authority, may also exercise the power of eminent domain as provided in chapter 8.12 RCW; provided that, the authority granted shall be limited to those purposes for which the watershed management partnership was formed.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Judiciary. | |
HB 1562
by Representatives Conway, Green, Williams, Moeller, and Wood
Establishing industrial insurance medical and chiropractic advisory committees.
Establishes industrial insurance medical and chiropractic advisory committees.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor. | |
HB 1563
by Representatives Ericksen, Bailey, Strow, McDonald, Chandler, Ross, and Linville
Using environmental mitigation moneys for agricultural preservation.
Provides that, for the purpose of environmental mitigation of transportation projects, any county may require the department of transportation to participate in the county's purchase of development rights program. If the county requires the department's participation, the department shall transfer to the county's purchase of development rights program environmental mitigation moneys for transportation projects.Declares that rights in perpetuity to future development of any open space land, farm and agricultural land, and timber land which are so designated by the county may be used as environmental mitigation moneys for transportation projects in lieu of wetlands or other mitigation required for a specific transportation project.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Transportation. | |
HB 1564
by Representatives Ericksen, Curtis, McDonald, Ahern, Ross, Strow, Haler, Linville, McCune, Green, Conway, and Bailey
Creating a sales and use tax exemption to encourage the purchase of motor vehicles that reduce air pollution.
Establishes a sales and use tax exemption to encourage the purchase of motor vehicles that reduce air pollution.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Finance. | |
HB 1565
by Representatives Kagi, Dickerson, and Kenney
Revising provisions relating to public access to child in need of services and at-risk youth hearings.
Provides that the public shall be excluded from a child in need of services hearing if the judicial officer finds that excluding the public is in the best interest of the child. The public shall be excluded from an at-risk youth hearing if either parent requests that the public be excluded or if the judicial officer finds it is in the best interest of the child.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Early Learning & Children's Services. | |
HB 1566
by Representatives VanDeWege, Ericks, McIntire, Ericksen, Ross, Warnick, Condotta, Kessler, and McCune; by request of Department of Revenue
Modifying the rural county tax credit.
Revises the rural county tax credit provided in chapter 82.62 RCW.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Finance. | |
HB 1567
by Representatives Rolfes, Hailey, Eddy, Clibborn, Appleton, Springer, Sells, Seaquist, Barlow, Simpson, and Lantz
Providing that transportation accounts receive one hundred percent of their proportionate share of earnings.
Revises provisions relating to increasing the proportionate share of earnings from surplus balance investments that are deposited in transportation-related accounts.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Appropriations. | |
HB 1568
by Representatives Campbell, Cody, Appleton, Hasegawa, Moeller, Morrell, Wood, and Ormsby
Evaluating the feasibility of operating a multistate health insurance pool.
Directs the office of the insurance commissioner to explore the feasibility of entering into a multistate health insurance pool compact for the purpose of providing affordable health insurance coverage to individuals and small employers. Initially, the multistate health insurance pool compact will include the states of Oregon and California.Provides that the office of the insurance commissioner shall propose model state legislation that each participating state would enact prior to entering into the multistate health insurance pool compact. If federal legislation is necessary to permit the operation of the multistate health insurance pool, the office of the insurance commissioner shall identify needed changes in federal statutes and rules.Requires the office of the insurance commissioner to report the findings and recommendations of the feasibility study to the appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives by December 1, 2007.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness. | |
HB 1569
by Representatives Cody, Campbell, Morrell, Linville, Moeller, Green, Seaquist, Conway, Dickerson, Appleton, McIntire, McCoy, Kagi, Pedersen, Kenney, Lantz, Santos, Wood, and Ormsby
Reforming the health care system in Washington state.
Declares an intent, through the public/private partnership reflected in this act, to improve our current health care system so that: (1) Health insurance coverage is more affordable for employers, employees, self-employed people, and other individuals;(2) The process of choosing and purchasing health insurance coverage is well-informed, clearer, and simpler;(3) Prevention, chronic care management, wellness, and improved quality of care are a fundamental part of our health care system; and(4) As a result of these changes, more people in Washington state have access to affordable health insurance coverage and health outcomes in Washington state are improved.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness. | |
HB 1570
by Representatives Hudgins, Campbell, Wood, Chase, Morrell, Hunt, McCoy, and Kenney
Authorizing a biomonitoring program.
Directs the department to conduct biomonitoring, in consultation with the department of ecology, local health jurisdictions, and other public health agencies, to assist public health agencies and policymakers in allocating resources to maximize improvements in environmental public health by: (1) Determining levels of exposure to environmental chemicals in population groups that may be at increased risk of exposure;(2) Measuring the prevalence of elevated levels of environmental chemicals in specific population groups;(3) Interpreting the public health significance of environmental monitoring data;(4) Assessing effectiveness of public health efforts to reduce exposure to specific populations to environmental chemicals; and(5) Determining the impact of public health efforts to reduce high levels of environmental chemicals.Requires that, by December 1, 2007, the department of health shall, in consultation with the department of ecology and local health jurisdictions, provide recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives for funding the biomonitoring program.Appropriates the sum of ninety thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, from the state toxics control account to the department of health for the purposes of this act.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Select Committee on Environmental Health. | |
HB 1571
by Representatives Conway, Moeller, and Wood
Revising provision for receipt of temporary total disability.
Amends RCW 51.32.090 relating to temporary total disability.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor. | |
HB 1572
by Representatives Quall, Priest, Barlow, P. Sullivan, Haigh, McDermott, Kenney, and Ormsby; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Granting the superintendent of public instruction additional purchasing authority.
Authorizes the superintendent to enter into, facilitate, or administer master price agreements or joint purchasing contracts with vendors of goods and services, private nonprofit organizations, school districts, and educational service districts. These agreements or contracts shall be in compliance with all applicable state or federal law. Administration may include charging and collecting reasonable fees from participants for the actual cost of administering such agreements or contracts.Authorizes the superintendent to adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW as are necessary to implement this act. Nothing in this act affects the authority of educational service districts or school districts to enter into, facilitate, or administer joint contracts or purchasing agreements.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Education. | |
HB 1573
by Representatives Quall, Priest, P. Sullivan, Pettigrew, Kenney, Kagi, Wallace, McCoy, Dickerson, Lovick, Santos, Hunt, Hasegawa, Simpson, Pedersen, Morrell, Conway, Lantz, O'Brien, and Ormsby; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Authorizing a statewide program for comprehensive dropout prevention, intervention, and retrieval.
Provides that, subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall create a grant program to local partnerships of schools, families, and communities to begin the phase in of a statewide comprehensive dropout prevention, intervention, and retrieval system. This program shall be known as the building bridges program. For purposes of this act, a "building bridges program" means a local partnership of schools, families, and communities that provides all of the following programs or activities: (1) A system that identifies individual students at risk of dropping out from middle through high school based on local predictive data, including state assessment data starting in the fourth grade, and provides timely interventions for such students, including a plan for educational success as already required by the student learning plan as defined under RCW 28A.655.061. Students identified shall include foster care youth and adjudicated youth;(2) Coaches or mentors for students as necessary;(3) Staff responsible for coordination of community partners that provide a seamless continuum of academic and nonacademic support in schools and communities;(4) Retrieval or reentry activities; and(5) Alternative educational programming, including, but not limited to, career and technical education preparatory programs and online learning opportunities.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Education. | |
HB 1574
by Representatives Wood, Conway, Hudgins, Condotta, Moeller, and Kenney; by request of Department of Licensing
Modifying provisions concerning the uniform regulation of business and professions.
Revises provisions concerning the uniform regulation of business and professions.Repeals RCW 18.140.175, 18.85.343, 18.220.140, 18.220.150, 18.220.170, and 18.220.180.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor. | |
HB 1575
by Representatives Conway, Hudgins, and Moeller; by request of Department of Licensing
Changing provisions concerning boxing, mixed martial arts, and wrestling events.
Provides that, in the interest of ensuring the safety and welfare of the participants, the director of the department of licensing is required to direct, supervise, and control all boxing, mixed martial arts, and wrestling events conducted within this state and an event may not be held in this state except in accordance with the provisions of chapter 67.08 RCW.Repeals RCW 67.08.010, 67.08.040, 67.08.130, 67.08.220, and 67.08.240.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor. | |
HB 1576
by Representatives Linville, McDonald, Wallace, Chase, Ericks, Darneille, Clibborn, Strow, P. Sullivan, Haler, Pettigrew, Moeller, and Morrell
Modifying the definition of qualified small business incubator.
Revises the definition of qualified small business incubator in RCW 43.176.020.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Community & Economic Development & Trade. | |
HB 1577
by Representative B. Sullivan; by request of Office of Financial Management
Concerning the statewide salmon recovery office.
Provides that the department, the department of ecology, the department of natural resources, the state conservation commission, and the governor's monitoring forum shall provide to the statewide salmon recovery office information requested by the office necessary to prepare the state of the salmon report and other reports produced by the office.Requires the statewide salmon recovery office to work with regional salmon recovery organizations including the southwest Washington salmon recovery region established in RCW 77.85.090 and the Puget Sound partnership, created by chapter . . ., ([House][Senate] Bill No. .... (Z-0369/07)), Laws of 2007 on salmon recovery issues in order to ensure a coordinated and consistent statewide approach to salmon recovery.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources. | |
HB 1578
by Representatives Orcutt, Takko, McDonald, Kretz, Ahern, Morrell, McCune, Green, Appleton, O'Brien, and Bailey
Modifying property tax provisions relating to the definition of combined disposable income to exclude prescribed ocular devices and hearing instruments for senior citizens, persons retired because of physical disability, or veterans.
Revises property tax provisions relating to the definition of combined disposable income to exclude prescribed ocular devices and hearing instruments for senior citizens, persons retired because of physical disability, or veterans.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Finance. | |
HB 1579
by Representatives Orcutt, Takko, McDonald, Blake, Kretz, Ahern, Kessler, and McCune
Exempting diesel fuel used for nonhighway use by commercial users from sales and use taxation.
Exempts diesel fuel used for nonhighway use by commercial users from sales and use taxation.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Finance. | |
HB 1580
by Representatives Takko, Orcutt, Lovick, and Sells
Consolidating designated forest lands and open space timber lands for ease of administration.
Consolidates designated forest lands and open space timber lands for ease of administration.Repeals RCW 84.33.077, 84.34.041, and 84.34.131.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Finance. | |
HB 1581
by Representative Takko
Clarifying the rules for reconvening boards of equalization.
Amends RCW 84.08.060 to clarify the rules for reconvening boards of equalization.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Finance. | |
HB 1582
by Representatives Takko, Sells, Morrell, and O'Brien
Streamlining the property tax appeal process.
Declares that, except as provided under this act, an administrative proceeding or judicial action shall not be brought nor a defense interposed to attack the validity of any tax, or any portion of any tax, based upon a claim that the assessed valuation placed upon the property by the county assessor exceeds the property's true and fair value.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Finance. | |
HB 1583
by Representatives Moeller, Conway, Darneille, Wood, Green, Ormsby, and Morrell
Requiring disclosure to customers of the percentage of automatic service charges paid to servers.
Requires disclosure to customers of the percentage of automatic service charges paid to servers.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor. | |
HB 1584
by Representatives Moeller, Jarrett, Springer, Dunshee, Darneille, Ormsby, Cody, Appleton, McCoy, Kagi, Morrell, and Green
Creating the institutions review commission.
Finds that the state lacks an independent review process and an effective method of decision making for state institutions with excess capacity or with alternative service delivery models to meet state policy. The legislature further finds that independent evidence-based facts are crucial to any decision that affects Washington citizens who reside in state institutions; and that a fair and objective analysis of the independent evidence-based facts will be better for the clients of the institutions.Declares that, for these reasons, the legislature intends to create an institutions review commission as an independent entity to review state institutions on a regular basis.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Affairs. | |
HB 1585
by Representatives Seaquist, Pettigrew, Hinkle, Buri, Ericks, Linville, Jarrett, Priest, Moeller, Lantz, Appleton, Hunt, and Kenney
Licensing persons who offer athletic training services.
Declares that it is the purpose of this act to provide for the licensure of persons offering athletic training services to the public and to ensure standards of competence and professional conduct on the part of athletic trainers.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness. | |
HB 1586
by Representatives Hunt and Ormsby
Removing the limitations on the number of divisions and assistant directors within the department of retirement systems.
Deletes the limitations on the number of divisions and assistant directors within the department of retirement systems.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Affairs. | |
HB 1587
by Representatives Newhouse, Warnick, Haler, Hailey, Curtis, Ross, Chandler, McCune, Dunn, Kristiansen, Bailey, and Ericks
Providing a business and occupation tax rate for custom farming services.
Provides a business and occupation tax rate for custom farming services.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources. | |
HB 1588
by Representatives Upthegrove, Wood, Hudgins, Takko, Moeller, and Simpson
Providing mobility education to students in driver training programs.
Finds and declares that it is the policy of the state of Washington to encourage the safe and efficient use of the roads by all citizens, regardless of mode of transportation. In furtherance of this policy, the legislature further finds and declares that driver training programs should enhance the driver training curriculum in order to emphasize the importance of safely sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians and educate students regarding the availability of mass transit, bicycling, and walking as mobility options.Appropriates the sum of three hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the biennium ending June 30, 2009, from the multimodal fund to the department of licensing for the purposes of this act.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Transportation. | |
HB 1589
by Representatives Schual-Berke, Hunt, Appleton, McIntire, Kagi, Pedersen, Moeller, Kenney, Miloscia, O'Brien, Wood, Goodman, McDermott, and Ormsby; by request of Governor Gregoire
Providing for public funding of judicial campaigns.
Declares that this act, the judicial independence act, introduces a voluntary pilot campaign funding system for appellate judicial positions that is intended to reduce the impact of special interests in judicial campaigns.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Affairs. | |
HB 1590
by Representatives Goodman, Rodne, Curtis, Eddy, Pearson, Springer, Linville, Roach, Jarrett, Priest, Clibborn, Ericks, Chandler, Schual-Berke, Dunshee, Upthegrove, Sells, Miloscia, Hurst, Williams, Newhouse, Simpson, and Kenney
Changing provisions affecting courts of limited jurisdiction.
Revises provisions affecting courts of limited jurisdiction.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Judiciary. | |
HB 1591
by Representatives Warnick and Hinkle
Concerning noncommercial docks and boat lifts in artificial lakes.
Recognizes that appropriate regulatory variances are consistent with established policy and effective protection measures.Declares an intent to: (1) Exempt qualifying private, noncommercial docks and boat lifts in artificial lakes, including Moses Lake, from certain regulatory requirements;(2) Define the term "artificial lake"; and(3) Require that such docks and boat lifts in artificial lakes be granted local permitting preferences. The legislature also intends to establish provisions for the department of natural resources pertaining to dock and boat lifts on artificial lakes.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Local Government. | |
HB 1592
by Representative Hurst; by request of Indeterminate Sentence Review Board
Revising provisions relating to the indeterminate sentence review board.
Revises provisions relating to the indeterminate sentence review board.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Human Services. | |
HB 1593
by Representatives Grant, Walsh, Moeller, and Wood
Approving the importing of one simulcast race of regional or national interest on horse race days.
Authorizes the importing of one simulcast race of regional or national interest on horse race days.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor. | |
HB 1594
by Representatives Springer, B. Sullivan, Chandler, and Condotta
Modifying the provision for merchandising beer and wine.
Revises provisions relating to the merchandising of beer and wine by employees between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one on or about a licensee's premises.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor. | |
HB 1595
by Representatives Appleton, Jarrett, Hunt, and Lantz
Expanding the protection of shellfish in Puget Sound.
Expands the protection of shellfish in Puget Sound.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Select Committee on Puget Sound. | |
HJM 4004
by Representatives Simpson, Hurst, Dunshee, Darneille, Williams, Upthegrove, Dickerson, Sells, Hasegawa, Green, McIntire, Conway, Clibborn, Cody, Moeller, Eddy, Haigh, Schual-Berke, Ericks, Flannigan, Ormsby, Hunt, Hudgins, Kessler, Kagi, Kenney, Santos, Goodman, and Quall
Calling for no escalation in Iraq.
Requests that, in a period when the Iraq Study Group, leading military and diplomatic officials, and allies around the world are calling for a reduction in troops and withdrawal of the United States from Iraq, the United States government should not escalate its involvement in Iraq or increase troop levels.Resolves that, at a minimum, the President should obtain explicit approval from Congress if he wants to send more American troops to Iraq; andResolves that Congress should pass legislation prohibiting the President from spending taxpayer dollars on an escalation in Iraq, unless the President first seeks Congressional approval.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Affairs. | |
HJM 4005
by Representatives Moeller, Takko, Appleton, Cody, Dunshee, Clibborn, Green, Pedersen, Flannigan, Hunt, Roberts, Darneille, Williams, Hasegawa, Kagi, Simpson, Kenney, Conway, Santos, McDermott, and Ormsby
Requesting that Congress enact a universal health care system.
Requests that Congress enact a universal health care system.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness. | |
SB 5514
by Senators Kohl-Welles, Shin, Keiser, Delvin, Murray, Weinstein, Kline, Kauffman, Kilmer, Fairley, McAuliffe, and Regala
Providing for faculty opportunities at institutions of higher education.
Declares that it is the purpose of this act to address growing concerns about the academic staffing crisis in higher education. Staffing issues, including the economic exploitation of adjunct faculty along with the shrinking ranks of full-time tenured faculty, limit the ability of the state system of higher education to provide high quality education, improve retention rates, conduct research, and provide support for economic development.Declares it is further the goal of this act to have salaries in institutions of higher education that will attract and retain the best faculty possible to educate the citizens of Washington state. To achieve this goal, salaries for full-time faculty should be increased above a regular cost-of-living increase until by 2013 salaries are in the top twenty-five percent for faculty of comparable rank in global challenge states. In addition, to achieve this goal, each institution of higher education should determine a salary standard for adjunct faculty members employed in each academic, technical, basic studies, or other department that, subject to collective bargaining with the exclusive representatives of faculty, constitutes a pro rata salary compared to the salaries of full-time tenured faculty members of comparable qualifications doing comparable work.Requires that each biennium, the governing boards of each institution of higher education shall submit in their biennial budget request an amount of funds sufficient to cover the projected costs of implementing this act.Requires that, beginning in September 2008, subject to appropriation, each institution of higher education shall increase faculty salaries by a sufficient amount to raise the salaries to comparative global challenge states' rates and to close the pro rata gap between adjunct faculty salary and full-time faculty in each department, if a gap exists, so that by September 2013, the legislature's goal is met.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Higher Education. | |
SB 5515
by Senators Stevens, Holmquist, Benton, Swecker, Roach, and Delvin
Prohibiting county assessors from publicizing real property owners' personal information.
Declares an intent to limit the amount of information that is made public in property assessments in order to protect property owners from being the victims of crime. Currently, property assessment information has included photographs that have contained pictures of property owners' children, vehicles with license plate numbers, and other related personal information. In order to prevent property owners from being potential victims of crime, this type of information must not be made public.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. | |
SB 5516
by Senators Stevens, Benton, Holmquist, Schoesler, Carrell, Swecker, Clements, Delvin, and Roach
Concerning the seizure or confiscation of firearms during a state of emergency or natural disaster.
Provides that pursuant to the second amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, section 24 of the Washington state Constitution, nothing under this or any other provision of law shall be construed to authorize: (1) The seizure or confiscation of a firearm or ammunition during an emergency or disaster, except: (a) from a person who is unlawfully carrying or in unlawful possession of a firearm or ammunition, (b) when seized or confiscated as evidence in a criminal investigation, or (c) when forfeited in compliance with RCW 9.41.098; or(2) The governor, any political subdivision, or any other governmental authority to impose additional restrictions on the lawful possession, transfer, sale, transport, carrying, storage, display, or use of a firearm or ammunition during an emergency or disaster.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Judiciary. | |
SB 5517
by Senators Berkey, Kauffman, Haugen, Eide, Kastama, Schoesler, Shin, Hatfield, Keiser, Rasmussen, Kline, and Regala
Increasing the personal needs allowance for persons receiving state-financed care.
Finds that through the medicaid program, state and federal government fund long-term care and medical services for many elderly persons and people with disabilities, both in institutions and in community alternatives.Finds that a significant portion of these individuals' social security benefits is retained by the state to assist with the cost of their care. The legislature intends that these individuals retain for their own use a reasonable personal needs allowance which may be used to purchase clothing, postage, barber services, travel, and other personal items not covered by their care setting, in order to ensure their autonomy and dignity.Declares an intent to establish a minimum level for the personal needs allowance, make it equal between institutional and community-based settings, and adjust the personal needs allowance annually to reflect cost-of-living adjustments to federal social security benefits.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |
SB 5518
by Senator Fairley; by request of Department of Retirement Systems
Removing the limitations on the number of divisions and assistant directors within the department of retirement systems.
Deletes the limitations on the number of divisions and assistant directors within the department of retirement systems.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |
SB 5519
by Senators Delvin, Poulsen, Honeyford, McCaslin, Shin, and Rasmussen
Directing the department of ecology to approve changes in the point of diversion under a water right.
Declares that the purpose of this act is to authorize and direct the department of ecology to approve changes in the point of diversion under a water right, as defined in this act, from any point within a pool, or hydraulically connected groundwater, to any other point within the same pool, or hydraulically connected groundwater, and to adopt a conclusive presumption that the changes do not impair any other water right and are in the public interest.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Water, Energy & Telecommunications. | |
SB 5520
by Senators Honeyford and Keiser
Authorizing the use of video equipment in nursing homes.
Provides that an administrator of a nursing facility licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW may authorize the use of video equipment to monitor and observe, through the use of video equipment, the perimeter, common areas, recreational areas, walkways, and any other areas frequented by residents, staff, and visitors of the nursing facility.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care. | |
SB 5521
by Senators Honeyford and Delvin
Requiring a study of traffic safety options for homeschooled students.
Directs the office of the superintendent of public instruction, jointly with the department of licensing, to convene an advisory committee of experts and stakeholders to study ways to make traffic safety education more accessible to students who receive home-based instruction.Requires the study, along with its recommendations, to be completed by January 1, 2008, and the results reported to the governor and the legislature.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Transportation. | |
SB 5522
by Senators Prentice, Fairley, Weinstein, and Kline
Providing for the annexation of a portion of a rural county library district by a city, code city, or town.
Provides for the annexation of a portion of a rural county library district by a city, code city, or town.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. | |
SB 5523
by Senators Franklin, Carrell, Keiser, Prentice, Berkey, and Parlette
Addressing specified disease, hospital confinement, or other fixed payment insurance.
Revises provisions related to specified disease, hospital confinement, or other fixed payment insurance.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care. | |
SB 5524
by Senators Berkey, Schoesler, Fairley, and Roach
Regulating manufactured home parks or manufactured housing communities.
Revises regulations for manufactured home parks or manufactured housing communities.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Consumer Protection & Housing. | |
SB 5525
by Senators Oemig, Swecker, and Regala
Adding city officials to the list of public agencies eligible for medical insurance coverage outside of compensation.
Adds city officials to the list of public agencies eligible for medical insurance coverage outside of compensation.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. | |
SB 5526
by Senators Hargrove, Regala, Prentice, and Shin; by request of Department of Labor & Industries
Modifying the definition of criminal act.
Revises the definition of criminal act.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Human Services & Corrections. | |
SB 5527
by Senators Hatfield, Morton, Parlette, and Rasmussen
Consolidating designated forest lands and open space timber lands for ease of administration.
Consolidates designated forest lands and open space timber lands for ease of administration.Repeals RCW 84.33.077, 84.34.041, and 84.34.131.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation. | |
SB 5528
by Senators Pflug, Holmquist, Zarelli, Swecker, Clements, Stevens, Roach, Hewitt, Delvin, and Parlette
Requiring a review of the essential academic learning requirements in mathematics.
Provides that, by July 1, 2007, the state board of education shall establish an independent mathematics review committee. Mathematics competency must be a prerequisite for inclusion on the committee.Requires that, by July 1, 2009, the committee shall review the current essential academic learning requirements in mathematics and make recommendations regarding changes of these mathematics standards to the legislature, the governor, the state board of education, and the office of the superintendent of public instruction. The review shall include, but is not limited to the following: (1) Reviewing the standards for clarity, rigor, content, reason, and any negative qualities;(2) Articulating grade level expectations over the grades as a sequence of expectations and performances that build with increasing depth after foundational knowledge and skills are acquired, and reflect, where appropriate, the sequential nature of the discipline;(3) Using the international benchmarking system of the trends in international mathematics and science study (TIMSS) and/or the program for international student assessment (PISA); and(4) Reviewing other states and nations that have proven and high-quality mathematics standards, including California and Singapore.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education. | |
SB 5529
by Senators Holmquist, Zarelli, Carrell, Benton, Morton, Schoesler, Stevens, Parlette, Pflug, Swecker, Roach, Clements, Delvin, and Hewitt
Modifying the oath of office to include support for the principles of the Declaration of Independence.
Revises the oath of office to include support for the principles of the Declaration of Independence.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. | |
SB 5530
by Senators Kohl-Welles, Kline, Fairley, Oemig, and Regala
Changing requirements for the restoration of the right to vote for people convicted of felonies.
Provides that the right to vote is restored following a felony conviction as long as the person is not in total confinement in the custody of the department of corrections or the federal bureau of prisons, whether serving the original sentence or serving time for a violation of supervision conditions. A person in total confinement in the custody of the department of corrections or the federal bureau of prisons as a result of a felony conviction is ineligible to vote.Repeals RCW 10.64.021 and 29A.08.660.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. | |
SB 5531
by Senator Jacobsen
Providing funding for parks and recreational facilities.
Provides funding for parks and recreational facilities.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation. | |
SB 5532
by Senators Benton, Holmquist, Rasmussen, Swecker, Roach, Hobbs, Oemig, Morton, Delvin, Keiser, and Shin
Limiting the power of eminent domain.
Finds that the United States Supreme Court ruled in the Kelo case that a city could use its power of eminent domain to transfer property from one private owner to another for the purpose of increasing tax revenues in the jurisdiction.Finds that while Washington's Constitution specifically forbids such transfers and states that private property may not be taken for private use, Washington courts have allowed private property taken through the eminent domain powers of government to be transferred to uses that are in fact private in nature.Declares that government's use of eminent domain in Washington should be restricted to uses that protect public health and safety or provide public use facilities, such as streets, roads, highways, street and road lighting systems, traffic signals, transportation corridors, utility corridors, water systems, storm and sanitary sewer systems, sewage treatment facilities, landfills, park and recreational facilities, and schools.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Judiciary. | |
SB 5533
by Senators Pflug, Hargrove, Kline, Swecker, Delvin, Stevens, Holmquist, Parlette, and Hewitt
Revising procedures for individuals who are mentally ill and engaged in acts constituting criminal behavior.
Finds that RCW 10.77.090 contains laws relating to three discrete subjects. Therefore, one purpose of this act is to reorganize some of those laws by creating new sections in the Revised Code of Washington that clarify and identify these discrete subjects.Finds that there are disproportionate numbers of individuals with mental illness in jail. The needs of individuals with mental illness and the public safety needs of society at large are better served when individuals with mental illness are provided an opportunity to obtain treatment and support.Declares that if reasonable cause exists to believe that an individual with a mental disorder has committed acts constituting a nonfelony crime that is not a serious offense as identified in RCW 10.77.092, in lieu of charging the prosecutor may refer the individual to a mental health professional for evaluation for initial detention and proceeding under chapter 71.05 RCW or voluntary participation in outpatient treatment.Provides that any jurisdiction that establishes a mental health treatment alternative pursuant to this act shall establish minimum requirements for the participation of individuals in the program. The mental health treatment alternative may adopt local requirements that are more stringent than the minimum. The minimum requirements are: (1) Psychiatric treatment is clinically indicated by history or upon consultation with a mental health professional as defined in RCW 71.05.020;(2) The individual has not previously been convicted of a serious violent offense or sex offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030; and(3) Without regard to whether proof of any of these elements is required to convict, the individual is not currently charged with or convicted of an offense: (a) that is a sex offense; (b) that is a serious violent offense; (c) during which the individual used a firearm; or (d) during which the individual caused substantial or great bodily harm or death to another person.Creates a joint task force on decreasing the number of individuals with mental illness entering the criminal justice system.Requires the task force to review and make recommendations to the legislature and the governor regarding increased access to mental health services for those within the criminal justice system and strategies that will decrease the number of people with mental health illness entering and reentering the criminal justice system.Requires the task force to report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by November 15, 2007.Repeals RCW 10.77.090.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Human Services & Corrections. | |
SB 5534
by Senators Kohl-Welles, Clements, and Keiser
Granting an exemption from unemployment compensation contributions for certain small performing arts industries.
Grants an exemption from unemployment compensation contributions for certain small performing arts industries.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Labor, Commerce, Research & Development. | |
SB 5535
by Senators Murray, Jacobsen, and Kohl-Welles
Concerning school district board of directors.
Requires the joint legislative audit and review committee to conduct a broad performance audit of school boards of directors in Washington and analyze the roles, responsibilities, costs, and compensation of school boards of directors. In addition to the standard items reviewed in a performance audit, the committee shall examine the efficiency and effectiveness of school district boards of directors, including the following: (1) In light of state and federal demands for student achievement and school reform, what is the appropriate role for school boards to assist in improving student and school's performance?(2) Should school boards primarily authorize and monitor the operations of schools or should they be involved more directly with school operations?(3) Should a new system be considered with most of the decision-making authority vested in a different entity?(4) What is the appropriate compensation for school boards in light of their duties and under any recommendations for revised duties?Provides that, in conducting the performance audit, the committee may also use performance measures or standards used by other states or school districts in developing its findings. The committee shall report the findings to the legislature by December 1, 2008.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education. | |
SB 5536
by Senators Fairley, Pflug, Weinstein, Stevens, Hewitt, and Keiser
Limiting the regulation of the practice of massage by political subdivisions.
Finds that licensed massage practitioners should be treated the same as other health professionals under Title 18 RCW and that additional registrations or licenses regulating massage or massage practitioners are not authorized.Repeals RCW 18.108.100.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care. | |
SB 5537
by Senators Fairley, Kline, Kohl-Welles, and Roach; by request of Department of Personnel
Modifying provisions relating to reclassifications, class studies, and salary adjustments.
Revises provisions relating to reclassifications, class studies, and salary adjustments.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Labor, Commerce, Research & Development. | |
SB 5538
by Senators Fairley, Pridemore, Shin, and Roach; by request of Department of Personnel
Using information obtained through the employee assistance program.
Amends RCW 41.04.730 relating to the employee assistance program.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. | |
SB 5539
by Senators Fairley, Pridemore, and Roach; by request of Department of Personnel
Clarifying the authority of the director of the Washington state department of personnel and the Washington personnel resources board.
Clarifies the authority of the director of the Washington state department of personnel and the Washington personnel resources board.Repeals RCW 41.06.136.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. | |
SB 5540
by Senators Kastama, Weinstein, Shin, and Rasmussen
Making an appropriation to the mobile home park relocation fund.
Appropriates the sum of four million dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, from the general fund to the mobile home park relocation fund, to be used for payment of mobile home relocation expenses under the mobile home relocation assistance program.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Consumer Protection & Housing. | |
SB 5541
by Senators Kohl-Welles, Keiser, Franklin, and Kline
Concerning bouncers.
Declares that a "bouncer" means an individual who is employed by a business with a license to sell beer, wine, or liquor, as defined by RCW 66.04.010, for the purpose of maintaining order in such establishments and to eject disorderly persons as required to fulfill that responsibility.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Labor, Commerce, Research & Development. | |
SB 5542
by Senators Jacobsen, McAuliffe, Poulsen, Honeyford, Rasmussen, and Holmquist
Creating the heritage barn preservation program.
Acknowledges that factors such as changes in the agricultural economy and farming technologies, prohibitive rehabilitation costs, development pressures, and regulations restricting new uses, collectively work to endanger historic barns statewide from falling into decay or being demolished altogether.Declares that, as historic barns represent irreplaceable resources, and recognizing that barn preservation will work to retain these structures as functional and economically viable elements of working lands, the purpose of this act is to create a system acknowledging heritage barns statewide that provides emergency assistance to heritage barn owners through matching grants, assesses the need for long-term barn preservation, and considers additional incentives and regulatory revisions that work toward the preservation of heritage barns as integral components of Washington's historic landscapes.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Agriculture & Rural Economic Development. | |
SB 5543
by Senators Clements, Kilmer, Holmquist, Sheldon, Marr, Hargrove, Regala, Carrell, Delvin, Pridemore, Oemig, Schoesler, Shin, and Rasmussen
Regulating motorcycles at traffic control signals.
Establishes provisions regulating motorcycles at traffic control signals.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Transportation. | |
SB 5544
by Senators Fraser, Poulsen, Fairley, Weinstein, Jacobsen, Franklin, and Kline
Abating environmental noise.
Declares that it is a violation of this act to operate a nonhighway vehicle in such a manner where the noise created by the engine of the nonhighway vehicle is plainly audible inside or immediately adjacent to a residence.Provides that a person found to have violated this act shall be subject to a penalty of not less than one hundred dollars per violation for a first violation. Subsequent violations of this act by the same person shall result in a penalty of not less than twice the penalty assessed for the previous violation, up to a maximum single penalty of eight hundred dollars.Provides that a party who brings an action to enjoin the use of nonhighway vehicles being operated in a manner that is in violation of this act or of any other noise laws, rules, or ordinances, or to recover damages associated with the use of a nonhighway vehicle being operated in a manner that is in violation of this act or of any other noise laws, rules, or ordinances, is entitled to recover costs and attorneys' fees pursuant to Title 4 RCW.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Consumer Protection & Housing. | |
SB 5545
by Senators Honeyford, Schoesler, and Roach
Issuing horseless carriage plates to trailers more than thirty years old if certain conditions are met.
Provides that a horseless carriage plate shall be issued for any trailer more than thirty years old, if the trailer, at the time it was manufactured, was designed to be pulled by a vehicle eligible to receive a horseless carriage plate under this act and is, while traveling on public roads, pulled by a vehicle eligible to receive a horseless carriage plate.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Transportation. | |
SB 5546
by Senators Kline, Fairley, and Franklin
Concerning small works roster contracting procedures.
Provides that a state agency or authorized local government may adopt procedures to award small works roster contracts to small businesses with gross revenues under one million dollars annually as reported on their federal tax return. Additional procedures may be developed to award small works roster contracts to small businesses with gross revenues under two hundred fifty thousand dollars annually as reported on their federal tax return.Provides that, for contracts awarded to small businesses with gross revenues under two hundred fifty thousand dollars annually, a state agency or authorized local government may waive the payment and performance bond requirements of chapter 39.08 RCW and the retainage requirements of chapter 60.28 RCW, and assume the liability for the contractor's nonpayment of laborers, mechanics, subcontractors, materialpersons, suppliers, and taxes imposed under Title 82 RCW. If the state agency or authorized local government assumes this liability, it has the right of recovery against the contractor for any payments made on behalf of the contractor.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. | |
SB 5547
by Senators Kline, Delvin, Fairley, Kohl-Welles, Keiser, Pflug, Franklin, Brandland, Marr, Regala, Rasmussen, Roach, Parlette, Shin, McAuliffe, and Hewitt
Creating an office of the ombudsman for persons with developmental disabilities.
Creates an office of the ombudsman for persons with developmental disabilities within the office of the governor for the purpose of promoting public awareness and understanding of developmental disabilities, identifying system issues and responses for the governor and the legislature to act upon, monitoring and ensuring compliance with administrative acts, relevant statutes, rules, and policies pertaining to services for persons with developmental disabilities, and to ensure that services and supports are of good quality and improve a person's quality of life.Declares that the ombudsman shall be an independent function within state government and shall exercise his or her powers and duties without interference from either public or private agencies or organizations.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care. | |
| Jan 24 | Scheduled for public hearing in committee. (Subject to change) | |
SB 5548
by Senators Kline, Hargrove, and Carrell
Creating the probation services task force.
Finds that there is a need to provide statewide standards for adult and juvenile probation officers supervising adult and juvenile misdemeanants.Requires the task force to report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the relevant committees of the legislature that deal with judiciary issues by December 1, 2007; provided that the task force shall not make any findings or recommendations regarding tort liability standards for probation officers supervising adult or juvenile misdemeanants.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Human Services & Corrections. | |
SB 5549
by Senators Kline, Zarelli, and Fairley
Expanding the responsibilities of the caseload forecast council.
Expands the responsibilities of the caseload forecast council.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |
SB 5550
by Senators Weinstein, Kohl-Welles, Murray, Kauffman, Kastama, Tom, Rockefeller, Pridemore, Spanel, Marr, Haugen, Eide, McAuliffe, Hargrove, Hatfield, Fraser, Kilmer, Jacobsen, Brown, Keiser, Shin, Franklin, McCaslin, Poulsen, Oemig, Kline, and Regala
Concerning real property.
Revises provisions concerning real property.
| Jan 23 | Scheduled for public hearing in committee. (Subject to change) | |
| First reading, referred to Consumer Protection & Housing. | ||
SJM 8004
by Senators Stevens, Swecker, and Benton
Requesting the withdrawal of the United States from participation in the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America.
Requests the withdrawal of the United States from participation in the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Economic Development, Trade & Management. | |
SJM 8005
by Senators Stevens, Benton, Swecker, and Kline
Requesting the suspension of implementing the federal REAL ID Act.
Requests that the United States Congress and the United States Department of Homeland Security suspend implementation of the REAL ID Act because it opposes Jeffersonian principles of individual liberty, free markets, and limited government.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Transportation. | |
SJM 8006
by Senators Holmquist, Benton, Zarelli, Schoesler, Carrell, Parlette, Delvin, Pflug, Swecker, Morton, Clements, Stevens, Hewitt, Roach, and Shin
Requesting that the words "under God" remain in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Requests that officers of the executive and legislative branches of both the federal and state governments continue their efforts to ensure that the words "under God" remain in the Pledge of Allegiance.
| Jan 23 | First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. | |